Many school districts are wanting SLPs to utilize the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) when developing goals and objectives for students on their caseload. You may have received information in your graduate-level courses and have had or are going to have a school-based externship. It will be important for you to find out how the SLP you are placed with addresses these issues as s/he provides services to the students on the caseload.
In conjunction with your experience at your school placement, you can also think about how you are going to navigate this moving forward in your CF experience within a school district. You may even want to ask a district what their expectations are during your interview! You will see variation state to state and district to district, not only in the way goals and objectives are written but also what role the SLP plays in identifying and carrying out appropriate measurable goals and whether or not they are required to be CCSS-based. You may be synthesizing information such as evaluation results, grade level expectations, the student’s present levels, and information from the teachers.
ASHA has several great resources provided in the link below. ASHA is also cautionary in that speech and language goals should NOT be taken directly from the Common Core, especially those specified for a student’s grade level at which they are currently performing. The CCSS are general educational standards for that grade level and using these may imply that a student does not require special education. SLPs may choose to focus on creating IEP goals which accomplish the tasks that underlie achievement of the standards. You may want to consider joining the ASHA Special Interest Group 16 - SIG 16, which will provide you with additional evidence-based research for your review. Additionally, some states have guidelines specific to the SLP’s role in this process.
I hope this information provides you a great starting point as you learn more about your role in the academic process.
